Anchor for fence-posts.



P. J. HINDMARSH.

ANCHOR FOR FENCE POSTS.

APPLICATION FILED 00123. 1915.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

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PERCY J'. HINDMARSH, F LINCOLN,

NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOB TO THE AMERICAN STEEL 63',

WIRE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW J EBSEY.

ANCHOR FOR FENCE-POSTS.

Patented Feb. 6, 1291?.

Application filed October 23, 1915. Serial No. 57,474.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PERCY J. Hrnnnnnsrr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Lincoln, inthe county of Lancaster and 'State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Anchors for Fence-Postsof which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to anchoring devices for fence posts, and has particular reference to a novel combined post and anchor.

In the use of the anchoring device as disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 17.098. filed March 26, 1915, it hasbeen found that there is a tendency of the anchor, or spreader, to continue sinking into the ground during the driving of the post, and there is considerable uncertainty as to the extent it will sink on account of varied conditions of the soil in which the parts are being driven. It will be understood that it is desirable to provide means whereby each post may be driven the same distance into the ground and each post be anchored fully.

An object in the present invention is to provide means associated with an anchoring device and a tubular post similar to that disclosed in my co-pending application referred to. whereby the anchor, after having been driven into the ground,'will remain undisturbed while the post is being driven thereover and the lower portion of the post flared to anchor the same.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the spreader, or anchoring device, which I prefer to employ, Fig. 9-

a perspective view of the post anchor and drive-limitingmeans which I prefer to employ; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same parts after the post has been driven to the full extent. and Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 with the post in place.

In the drawings. it will beseen that the anchor. as best shown in Fig. 1. comprises a body portion 10. which is cruciform in cross section. having a driving head 11. and at-its lower end having each of the flanges flared outwardly, as indicated at 12, then flared inwardly to a driving point 13. Intermediate of the ends of the syn'eader I provide webs 14. which extend between the adjacent vertical flanges and serve as means for packing the dirt around the interior of the post. Near the upper end of the anchor, I provide a transverse aperture 15 for a purpost later described.

The post 16, as indicated in Figs. 2 and i 3, is of tubular form and has longitudinal slits 17 therein at its lower end. As the post is driven over the spreader the slitted lower end of the post will contact the flared portion 12 of the spreader and be deflected outwardly, forming the flukes 18, indicated in Fig. 3. r

The purpose of this invention is to provide means whereby. when the lower end of the post contacts said portion of the spreader, the spreader will not be driven down into the ground with the post, thereby requiring that the post be driven farther into the ground in order to secure a proper anchoring effect. To secure this result I provide in, the post, at a point near the groundline, a longitudinal slot 19, through which a key 20 is inserted, this key occupying the aperture 15 in the spreader. Located beneath the slit and beneath the key is a plate having a vertical portion 21 and a horizontal portion 22, the horizontal portion being extended to lie on the surface of the ground.

The operation. is as follows: The spreader 10 is driven into the ground until the bottom of the slot 15 is in line with the surface of the ground. The post is then driven over the spreader, as shown in Fig. 2, until the lower part of the slot 19 registers with the aperture 15 in the spreader. The plates 21, 22 are then placed over the post and driven into the ground until the flat top portion 22 thereof is on the surface of the ground. Key 20 is then driven through the slot in the post and syn-cadet, whereupon the post is further driven until the key comes into contact with the. upper end of the slot 19 in the post. The post will then be properly anchored. as shown in Fig. 3. By the use of the means shown, the spreader is anchored from further entrance into the ground. while the post is being driven thereover. If desired, the key and plates may be removed after the driving operation is completed.

I claim:

1. In a fence post and anchor, the combination of a spreader element adapted to be driven into the ground and provided with an aperture, near its upper end, a post adapted to be driven over said spreader, said spreader and. serving to prevent the'further entrance of said spreader into the ground as said post is driven thereover, substantially as described.

3. in a device of the class described, the combination of a spreader having means at its lower end for (hiring a post, a tubular post adapted to be driven o\'er said spreader, and means disengagcably connected to said spreader and serving to prevent the further entrance ol said spreader into the ground as said post is driven lllerem'el', said means iueludinga plate adapted to rest upon the surface of [he .Qi'nun l. and'a l cy engaging said spreader and restingnupou said .platc, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a spreader having a shank and provided at itslower end with means for flaring the lower end of a post, a post adapted to be driven over said spreader, said post and spreader being provided with registering apertures, the aperture in the post being elongated with respect to the aperture in the spreader, a plate resting upon the surface of the ground and located beneath the plane of said aperture, and a key passing through said post and spreader and resting upon said plate, whereby said spreader is prevented from further entrance into the ground, While said post is permitted to enter further into the ground, substantially as described.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 21st day ol' October, 1915.

PERCY J'. llINDMA hSll.

Witnesses:

Uuws. l Muamy, 'l. l). liu'riinn. 

